Diaphragm motor for valves



JM, 11 m5@ B. R. JONES DIAPHRGM MOTOR FOR VALVES Filed Feb. 19, 1946 n n* INVENTGR. ewjczfmn j?. Jones Patented Jan. 31, 1950 DIAPHRAGM MOTOR FOR VALVES Benjamin R. Jones, Marshalltown, Iowa, assigner to Fisher Governor Company, Marshalltown, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application February 19, 1946, Serial No. 648,690

7 Claims.

This invention relates to diaphragm motors for valves.

The invention is particularly adapted to valves of the push-down-to-close type and which are opened by air pressure operating upwardly on a diaphragm.

Since the air pressure chamber in such valves is on the same side of the diaphragm as the valve stem, it became necessary in old type valves to provide a packing for the valve stem to seal the air pressure chamber from atmosphere. This packing impeded the action of the Valve, slowing it down considerably.

In my invention the diaphragm itself seals the air pressure chamber from atmosphere.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a diaphragm motor valve of the push-downtoclose type which obviates the necessty of a packing for the valve stem.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve in which the diaphragm seals the air pressure chamber from atmosphere.

Another object is the provision of a diaphragm having a central opening for the projection of the valve stem and having the marginal edge of the central opening secured to the valve body.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

The single :figure shows my new valve motor in vertical cross section attached to a valve which is also in vertical section. j

Referring in detail to the drawing, the valve motor includes a diaphragm housing I2 having an upper diaphragm casing I4 and a lower diaphragm casing I6. These diaphragm casings are each formed with registering flanges I8 provided with openings therein for bolts 20 for securing the diaphragm casings together. The lower diaphragm casing I6 is provided with a central boss 22 which extends upwardly to approximately the plane of the flange I8 on the lower diaphragm casing. The boss 22 is formed with a central vertically extending circular opening 24 therein.

A diaphragm 26 provided with a central opening is secured in the diaphragm housing, its outer marginal edge secured between the anges I8, and its inner marginal edge secured to the upwardly extending boss 22 by means of a circular ring 28 and bolts 3D threaded therethrough and into the marginal edge of the boss 22. The diaphragm 26 forms an air pressure chamber 32 with the lower diaphragm casing I6, and a chamber 33 with the upper diaphragm casing I4. A threaded opening 34 is formed in the lower diaphragm casing I6 for supplying air pressure to the chamber 32. A vent 35 is formed in the upper diaphragm casing I4 to vent the diaphragm chamber 33 to atmosphere.

Formed on the lower surface of the lower diaphragm casing I6 is a hollow circular projection 36 by which the diaphragm housing I2 is mounted on a circular supporting housing 38, the housing 38 having a ange 40 at its upper end. Bolts 42 are threaded through the iiange 40 into projection 36 for securing them together.

Mounted for vertical reciprocation in the circular housing 38 is a valve stem 44 which eX- tends upwardly through the opening 24 in the boss 22 and into the upper chamber 33. Secured to the upper end of the Valve stem 44 in the chamber 33 is a shoe 46, which has a downwardly facing central concave portion and an annular, substantially at bearing surface 48, the latter having a considerable radial area for engaging the upper side of the diaphragm 26. The diaphragm 26 can be iiexed between its points of securement, or between the outer edge of the diaphragm housing I2 and the boss 22. The concave shape of the shoe 46 is such that the bearing surface 48 thereof is adapted to extend below the upper surface of the boss 22 and be in engagement with the diaphragm 26 in its lowermost position of flexing. This position is shown in the drawing. The shoe 46 is therefore adapted to have constant engagement with the diaphragm. The opening 24 is large enough for free reciprocation therein of the shank 5U of the shoe 46.

, A compression spring 52 encircles the valve stem 44 and is biased between the under surface of the boss 22 and a ring 54 secured to the lower end of valve stem 44 by an adjusting nut 56 threaded on the valve stem. The spring 52 normally biases the Valve stem 44 downwardly, the adjusting nut 56 being utilized to adjust the initial load of the spring 52 to determine the air pressure at which the diaphragm begins to move.

The valve 58 which is operated by the diaphragm motor is a conventional valve of the type that closes when pushed down. It is secured to the arms `El! of the circular housing 38 by cooperating flanges 62. The lower end of the valve stem 44 is provided with a valve closer 64 which seats on valve seat 66 when pushed down. The valve is sealed by packing means 68 in a conventional manner. I

This valve motor eliminates the necessity for having a packing for sealing off the air pressure diaphragm chamber from atmosphere. Such packing impedes the operation of the valve due to friction, and the only packing necessary in the valve of the present invention is that for sealing the valve proper from atmosphere.

Thediaphragm chamber 32 isannular in form pression spring 52 which normally biases the Valve to closed position. Hereinfis aysaietyieature-that is, on failure of the sourceof air pres- '110. a push-down-to-close type valve that is. opened..

sure, the valve will close. It is the rst time thaty by air pressure was made in which a packing means was not necessary for sealing ofi .theair pressure chamber from atmosphere.

While ,I have .hereingshownfand -describeda pre-l fer-redl embodiment `of my invention, .manifestly itv issusceptible of modications and rearrange.

ment of parts. .without departing .from'the Spirit and-,scopethereoi.. I do not, -therefore,\ .wish.-to be. understood as limiting this invention `to the` precise form .hereindisclosed exceptasl may be so .-limitedby the appended claims..

I Aclaim as follows:

l. A..Valve .motor comprisingnn combination, a supportinghousing, a. diaphragm housing ,ser curedthereto,y a diaphragm .having ,ia v4central opening and-being rigidly secured at .its ...outer and inner marginaledges in the .diaphragm housing, thezdiaphragm forming. .an air pressure chamber fwiththe diaphragm .housing,..and a valve stem .reciprocable in the supporting` housingand extendinginto thediaphragm housing through the central opening fin. the .diaphragm .and having. an operative connection .with the.diaphragm..

2. Avalve .motor comprising.in combination, asupporting housing, a diaphragm housing secured, thereto, a diaphragm having a central.

opening and being rigidly securedat .its outer and inner marginal edges in 'the.diaphragm.housing, the diaphragm forming .an air. pressure chamberwith the .diaphragm housing, and a valve stem reciprocable in the supporting hous `ingand. extending into thediaphragm housing through the central opening -in theV diaphragm,. said valve stem having a shoesecured theretoioi.

engagingV thediaphragm, said shoe .having a subl stantia'larea with respect to the diaphragm..

3. A valve motor comprising, in combination, a supporting` housing, .a diaphragm `housing secured thereto, the' diaphragmhousing including an upperand lower diaphragm..casingthe.lowerf diaphragm-. casing having la central opening formed therein, a diaphragm having wa central. opening formed therein, the outer Vmarginal edge.,

of .the diaphragm being rigidly secured between the outer marginal edges of the diaphragmbasings, the inner Ymarginal edge. of. the diaphragm being rigidlyse'cured at the marginal edgegof the" central A,opening in thelower diaphragm casing,

and a valve stem reciproca'ble in the supporting housing, the valve stem extendingY through the central openings in the lower..diaphragm casing and the diaphragm and havingjangoperative connection with vthe diaphragm.

4, A valve motor comprising, in. combination', a supporting housing, `a diaphragm housingLsee cured thereto, an annular diaphragm rigidly .secured at its outerjand inner marginal edges `in the diaphragm housing and forming an annular diaphragm chamber therein,. said diaphragmA chamber having a central :opening and a valve stem reciprocable in the supporting housing, theV valve stem extending into the diaphragm hous.v

ing through the central opening in the annular diaphragm chamber and having anoperativecon On decrease 'zedgeswofithe diaphragm casings, a diaphragm `having acentral Aopening therein, the outer marginal edge of the diaphragm being rigidly secured between.` the outer marginal edges of the diaphragm casings, the inner marginal edge of the diaphragm .being `rigidly `secured .to thel central boss around the opening therein, a valve stern re ciprocablein vthe supporting housing 4and extending. into ..the...diaphrag.mhousingl through the openingsin. the central boss .and diaphragm, andV means operatively connecting the Valve stemwith the diaphragm. Y

6. A valve motor comprising, in combination, a .supporting housing, a diaphragm housing. 4secured thereto, thediaphragm housing includ-ing` upper and lower.V .concave .diaphragm-casings, a central .boss having an opening-therein .formed in the lower diaphragm. .casi.ng....and extending-- upwardly to substantiallyl the lplaneet-the .meeting edges of .the diaphragm casings,.a .diaphragmhaving. a centralopening .therein,.the.outernmarginahedge ofithe diaphragmbeing .rigidly .se--v cured .betweenthe .outer .marginal edges. ofthe diaphragm casings, the inner .marginaledge .oitheI .diaphragm .being .rigidly secured to the central. boss. around the openingtherein, the-diay phragm .capable Obeing -exed below theuppersurface of. the centralY boss,- `a ...valve stem reciprocable in the supporting housing and. ex-

tendinginto Athe diaphragm housingthrough the openingsin. the central boss and. diaphragm, andA a downwardly concave shoe secured totheupper end of. .the valve stem. and. Yengagingthe. upper` surfaceof the diaphragm, .said concave shoe adapted to` be in engagement with `the.diaphragminthe lowermost vpoint o-..flexing of the -d-ia. phragrn..

'7. A valve motor. comprising, combination,I

casing,.the lower. casing having .a central open-` ing therein, a diaphragmhavingv a centralopening therein and bei-ng rigidly'secured at its 'Louter and .inner marginal edges to theVV lower casing. so as..to form an'. annular. air pressure chamber.

with the lower.casing, said air pressurechamber having an opening forconnection with` a source.

of compressed air, means operatively'connec'ting the .valvestem withl 'the diaphiagmthrough: the

center of the. annularair pressure' chamber andengaging theupper surfacel of the diaphragm, and means biasing the' valve stem downwardly.

BEJAMIN R. JONES) IREFERENCES'y CIT-ED Theiollowing. .references -.are of .recordy in the file. of this. patent.:l

UNITED' STATES PATENTS' Number' 

